10 years after the OPEN U.P. defined the gravel bike, Open have now perfected it with the Upper Concept.
A light, nimble gravel bike for fast racing or riding. Even an overnighter or fast tarmac group ride is possible thanks to its comfort, efficiency and speed.
To ride faster & farther requires low drag & high comfort. The new frameset keeps OPEN's legendary frame compliance while adding aero where it matters: up-front.
The aero benefits come from streamlining the front of the bike, where the airflow is still undisturbed and smooth. That means the headtube, downtube, handlebars and fork are the key areas to reduce drag.
But aero is irrelevant if the bike is too uncomfortable to hold your position for long. So we optimize aerodynamics and compliance together, creating aero shapes without making our tubes too deep. Wherever a deeper tube is really beneficial (fork legs & headtube), we tune the shape and layup to still preserve the compliance.
Further back, the fight between comfort & aero is no contest. The seat tube, chainstay and seat stay shapes ensure we achieve the comfort we’re known for. As a bonus, the ultra-thin seat stays Gerard helped introduce to frame design with the Cervélo R3 also keep the frontal area small. They even get a micro-aero treatment.
Features on the Upper Concept:
U-Turn Aero Fork: our fastest option, optimized for aerodynamics. This means the blades are fully aero, the brake caliper is integrated and there are no cargo rivnuts or other details to disturb the airflow.
Internal storage: The U.P.PER. CONCE.PT. is as paired down as possible, which means it does not have internal storage.
Wire-Stays: Thin seatstays provide compliance, while their bowed shape "pre-set" its flex for the best possible vibration absorption. For the new frames, the direction of the pre-set is rotated 90 degrees, so they bow out sideways instead of downward.
Straight chainstays: Offer the best power transfer yet still provide great tire clearance (44mm for the U.P.PER. CONCE.PT). As always, you should measure the tire when mounted on your rim, as the tire labels are not always accurate.
27.2mm round seatpost: The most boring seatpost size may not look like a design choice, but it is. It is light, offers great compliance and is compatible with a long list of seatposts, including many dropper and/or suspension posts should you desire to use one of those.
Deep headtube: The headtube is crucial for aerodynamics, as it is the first frame member to hit the airflow. The deep shape works wonders here, while underneath the carbon layup ensures the comfort stays high. A true win-win.
Size-specific crown: We vary the fork crown shape and height significantly from size to size, in order to create the best stiffness and compliance balance for each size. It also ensures the handling is equally agile in every size. This is a first in bike design.
T47: is the new standard for threaded BBs, embraced by the leading BB makers. It's spacious enough for any crank axle (oversized 30mm, SRAM DUB, Shimano, 24mm) and combine that with a wide 86mm BB shell to maximize the connection to the chainstays.
UDH: The new UP and UPPER are UDH compatible, meaning it can be paired with any standard drivetrain (SRAM, Shimano, Campagnolo, etc) using a UDH hanger and with SRAM Transmission rear derailleurs (direct-mount to the frame).
Rotoblock fender mounts: Standard fender mount are eyelets, which can cause the fender wires to flex and rotate (causing rattling and even rubbing). Our unique fender mounts thread directly into the frame, thereby eliminating any rotation and stiffening the setup.
Broadshoulder dropouts: Installing wheels with disc brakes and thru axles can be a real pain if the wheel isn't lined up correctly. With the extra broad shoulders on our dropouts (50-100% wider than standard), the wheel is much better supported.
Smartmount 160 front: Instead of the standard four bolts plus an adaptor to attach the brake caliper to the fork, OPEN pioneered the Smartmount direct-mount system that removes the adaptor and two bolts to attach the caliper directly onto the fork.
Smartmount 160 rear: The brake caliper attaches directly onto the frame, positioned for 160mm discs. No adaptors or spacers are required (unlike on standard flatmount setups that require these extra parts). This makes Smartmount lighter, stiffer & safer.
Frame Specifications:
- Colour - Black
- Weight - Frame Medium 845g painted / Fork 370g Uncut
- Size - Medium and Large only in Concept
- BB - T47 Threaded with 86mm Shell
- Groupsets - All Shimano Di2 and SRAM AXS
- Max Chainring - Using 1x 52T, using 2x 50T
- Front Mech Mount - No
- Max Rotor - 160mm Front and Rear
- Headset - IS52 / 40 x 45 Degrees Top and Bottom
- Seatpost - 27.2mm Round
- Max Rider Weight - Total including luggage 120kg
In the Box:
- Frame
- Aero Fork
- OPEN B.A.R. (Break All Rules) 1-piece handlebar/stem
- Seatpost
- Headset
- UDH RD Hanger
- Noise-Reduction Foam Sleeves
- Bottle Cage Bolts
- Manual
